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The opportunity to serve Pope Francis during the February 5 Holy Mass in South Sudan was a fulfilling experience, those who were selected to coordinate the preparations for the Papal Mass in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, have said.
The private meeting between Pope Francis and members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) during his visit in South Sudan was “amazing”, a Priest at the helm of the Jesuits in Eastern Africa Province has said.
Catholic Bishops in Africa and Madagascar have expressed their gratitude to Pope Francis for visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan despite his poor health.
In his encounter with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during his second day in South Sudan, Pope Francis urged respect for and protection of women.
Pope Francis has paid special attention to Africa, a Catholic theologian has said, noting that the Holy Father’s focus on Africa, which he says has always been the periphery, is “disruptive in a good sense.”
The “bold decision” of Pope Francis to realize the ecumenical visit in South Sudan is an indication of the “solidarity with us”, Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of the country’s Juba Archdiocese has said.
At a Mass in South Sudan on Sunday, Pope Francis urged Christians in the war-torn African country to make “a decisive contribution to changing history” by refusing to repay evil with evil.
Pope Francis was greeted by cheers and ululations on Saturday as he arrived at a meeting with roughly 2,500 South Sudanese refugees.
Benedict XVI was “not a bitter man,” Pope Francis said, speaking during his inflight press conference Feb. 5 of his relationship with his predecessor.
On his return flight from South Sudan on Sunday, Pope Francis said that God loves and accompanies people with same-sex attraction.
A Catholic missionary Nun working in South Sudan has expressed elation at meeting Pope Francis who is in the East-Central African country for an Ecumenical visit, noting that the Holy Father’s “pure presence” in Africa’s youngest nation means a lot for the country.
Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo has described the presence of Pope Francis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as “comforting” and that it is “a true encouragement” for the people of God in the Central African nation “who are suffering in body and soul”.
About 50,000 people attended the ecumenical prayer service.
Pope Francis held a moment of silence Saturday for priests and religious who have been killed in South Sudan.
The students and Father Guy Julien Muluku were detained nearly 34 hours before being released shortly before 10 p.m. on Feb. 3.
The President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) has, on behalf of the Catholic Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thanked Pope Francis for the “unforgettable days” the Holy Father spent with the people of God in the country during his four-day Apostolic visit that concluded Friday, February 3.
Pilgrims in the nine-day “walking for peace” pilgrimage organized by the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek who arrived in Juba on Thursday, February 2, the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis in South Sudan, were united for peace and reconciliation in the country.
A Member of Parliament (MP) in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State has said the second leg of Pope Francis' two African nation trip is a “miracle” to the people of God in the East-Central African nation.
The enthusiasm, joy, and missionary zeal of Congolese Catholics give oxygen to the whole Church, Pope Francis said during his final meeting in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.
After interacting with Pope Francis on Wednesday, February 1, victims of violence in Ituri Province in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have expressed hope that peace would return to their country and to their region.